sea

1 (alsothe sea)[uncountable](literaryseas[plural])(especially British English)the salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface and surrounds its continents and islandsto travel by seaa cottage by the seaThe waste was dumped in the sea.The wreck is lying at the bottom of the sea.We left port and headed for the open sea(= far away from land).the cold seas of the Arctica sea voyagea hotel room with sea viewBritish/​Americansea / ocean In British English, the usual word for the mass of salt water that covers most of the earth’s surface is the sea. In North American English, the usual word is the ocean:A swimmer drowned in the sea/​ocean this morning. The names of particular areas of seas, however, are fixed:the Mediterranean Seathe Atlantic Ocean.Sea/​ocean are also used if you go to the coast on holiday/​vacation:We’re spending a week by the sea/​at the ocean in June. In North American English it is also common to say:We’re going to the beach for vacation.note atcoastsee alsohigh seas,oceanWordfinderbeach,coast,harbour,pier,sandbank,sea,shoreline,surf,tide,waveWordfinderbeach,cliff,coast,dune,headland,inlet,promontory,sea,shore,tideSee related entries:Coastlines and the sea,Travelling by boat or ship

2 [countable](often Sea, especially as part of a name)a large area of salt water that is part of an ocean or surrounded by landthe North Seathe Caspian SeaSee related entries:Coastlines and the sea

3 [countable](alsoseas[plural])the movement of the waves of the seaIt was a calm sea.The sea was very rough.See related entries:Coastlines and the sea

4[singular]sea of somethinga large amount of something that stretches over a wide areaHe looked down at the sea of smiling faces before him.See related entries:Coastlines and the sea

Word OriginOld Englishsǣ, of Germanic origin; related to Dutchzee and GermanSee.Extra examplesHe has sailed the seven seas.I love swimming in the sea!In recent years the sea has risen by a couple of inches.She scanned the vast sea of faces below her.She stood on the cliff, staring out to sea.The camp is situated 6 755 feet above sea level.The fishing boats headed for the open sea.The island is sinking into the ocean due to rising sea levels.The sea has receded since the river was diverted.The sea was too rough for sailing in small boats.The ship put to sea in deteriorating weather conditions.They live by the sea.They were lost at sea when their ship sank en route for Madeira.They were surrounded by a sea of boxes.Thousands of Haitians tried to cross the sea to Florida.We crossed the Mediterranean Sea on a cruise ship.We sailed across the Black Sea in a yacht.We sent our furniture by sea.We spent three weeks at sea.We’ll go down to the sea for a swim before dinner.a calm sea after the storma house overlooking the seathe rise of British sea power in the 17th and 18th centuriesthree ships sailing on the seatreacherous sea conditions around GreenlandA boy drowned last night after being swept into rough seas by a large wave.Fish stocks in the North Sea are in danger of ‘crashing’ because of over-fishing.Her husband was in the navy and spent a lot of time away at sea.I asked for a room with a sea view.I looked down at the sea of faces.Now the wreck is lying at the bottom of the sea.Our next guest has travelled across land and sea to be with us this evening.The goods were sent by sea.The plane passed over a sea of greenery.The sea was very calm.The taxi made its way through a sea of bicycles.The waste is dumped in the sea.They live in a cottage by the sea.They sailed the seven seas in search of adventure.We left the port and headed for the open sea.the cold seas of the AntarcticIdioms